How a Career Gap Helped One Parent Launch a Nonprofit

Episode 53 of The Comeback Career Podcast explores how a six-year career gap became the launchpad for a nonprofit. Hosts Lucas and Luna unpack the story of Sarah Chen, a former marketing manager who left her job in 2018 to care for her aging parents. When she re-entered the workforce in 2024, she couldn't find roles that accommodated her caregiving schedule—so she founded CareBridge, a nonprofit that connects family caregivers with part-time, remote work opportunities at companies like Patagonia and Buffer. Sarah's journey reveals how the empathy, logistics, and resilience honed during a gap can be directly leveraged into social entrepreneurship. Lucas and Luna break down the specific steps she took: from conducting informational interviews with 30 nonprofit founders, to building a board of advisors during her gap years, to securing a $50,000 grant from the Skoll Foundation. They also discuss the broader trend of 'career gap entrepreneurship' and how parents re-entering the workforce are increasingly starting their own organizations rather than waiting for employers to accommodate them. Tune in for a blueprint on turning a gap into impact. #CareerGap #StayAtHomeReEntry #Nonprofit #SocialEntrepreneurship #Caregiving #ParentingAndCareer #SarahChen #CareBridge #Patagonia #Buffer #SkollFoundation #InformationalInterview #BoardOfAdvisors #GrantWriting #WorkLifeBalance #RemoteWork #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo